"THE AIR MAILS OF NEW ZEALAND,
Volume One, THE INTERNAL FLIGHTS" (1897-1955)
by DOUGLAS A. WALKER
This publication covers an exciting period of New
Zealand's history with clarity and detailed accounts -
creating an invaluable historical document for the
aerophilatelist and historian alike.

"AIRMAILS OF NEW ZEALAND, Volume
Two, THE OVERSEAS FLIGHTS 1928-1940"
by DOUGLAS A. WALKER
This book is an exhaustive encyclopedia of New
Zealand's early overseas flights. Nothing has been left
to the reader's imagination - a must for anyone
interested in early New Zealand, whether it be to learn
about the famous pioneer aviators of the day, the
amazing machines of wood and fabric they flew or stamp
issues and cachet types that were used on overseas mail
at that time.

"AIRMAILS OF NEW ZEALAND, Volume Three,
THE INTERNATIONAL AIRMAILS, 1940-1970"
by ROBIN M. STARTUP
This is the second volume covering International airmails
through to 1970.
Once again, the historical data of this era of jet-powered
flight has been treated with the importance it deserves
in this super publication.

"THE NEW ZEALAND AIRMAIL CATALOGUE" third edition by
JAMES A. STAPLETON - edited by MIKE SHAND
This is the latest catalogue published by the Society and it does not
disappoint. Printed on quality gloss paper and being extremely easy to
read, there are over one hundred and forty airmail covers displayed,
spanning ninety-eight years - from 1911-2009. It contains everything the
aerophilatelist, postal historian, or aviation enthusiast could wish for.

For Sale

The AMSNZ also has on its website a number of special flight covers
and historic aviation postcards.
Historic aviation photos are also displayed and are for sale.

Air Mail Society Club Meetings

The Air Mail Society of New Zealand holds monthly
meetings at its club rooms in Christchurch and postal
auctions with all types of associated material on offer
at various times; eg. flight covers, airmail stamps,
special catchets & cancels, commemorative &
anniversary covers, photos, books and more. There is
also a very interesting and informative 'NZ Air Mail
Newsletter' published monthly and free to
members.
If you would like to know more, contact the Air Mail
Society through their address below or visit their
website.

"THE AIR MAIL SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND Inc.,
Box 29-144, Fendalton,
Christchurch,
New Zealand"AMSNZ website

By TEAL Short S.45 Solent ZK-AML "Aotearoa ll".
The Solent, chartered by the Department of Island Territories
flew from Auckland to Evans Bay, Wellington to embark passengers
and mail for the Chathams. The return flight from Te Whanga
Lagoon was made the same day. ZK-AML then flew from Wellington to
Sydney.

1951, 29 January

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Flight by TEAL Short S.45 Solent ZK-AML
"Aotearoa II" chartered by the Department of Island Territories.
The Solent flew from Auckland to Evans Bay, Wellington to embark
passengers and mail for the Chatham Islands, flying back to
Wellington and Auckland on the same day.

1951, 19 March

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Charter flight by TEAL with Short S.45 Solent
ZK-AMN "Awatere". Passengers and mail flew from Evans Bay,
Wellington, and the return flight was made the same day.

Flight by TEAL Short S.45 Solent flying boat on
charter to the Department of Island Territories. The Solent flew
from Auckland to Wellington where the passengers embarked for the
Chathams. The return flight made on the same day.

1951, 15 May

DURING THE WATERFRONT 'LOCKOUT'

The Union Steam Ship Co arranged to charter
Australian National Airways Douglas DC-4 VH-ANG "Palana" (Captain
P.L Taylor) to fly a cargo of bulk raw rubber to Christchurch.
The aircraft arrived at Christchurch on 15 May and on its return
flight the same day, it carried a small unofficial mail
postmarked CHRISTCHURCH 14 MY 51. The covers are addressed to
Melbourne and are endorsed "Carried by = Rubber Plane" in
handwriting.

1951, 29 May

A FEEDER SERVICE TO BRITISH COMMONWEALTH PACIFIC
AIRLINES (BCPA)

NZNAC extended its Pacific Service from Nandi,
Fiji to Aitutaki, Cook Islands at the same time as Air Tahiti
service linked French Polynesia with Nandi. These regional
services connected with the BCPA Pacific route from Auckland to
Vancouver. Covers have not been reported but may
exist.

1951, 28-29 June

MELBOURNE-CHRISTCHURCH AND RETURN

TEAL chartered QANTAS DC-4 Skymaster VH-EBM
"Philippine Trader" (Captain D.F. McMaster) to commence its new
service. Mail closed at Melbourne at 7.00pm on 28 June and
letters carried on that date were backstamped CHRISTCHURCH NOON
29 JNE 51. For the return flight the Christchurch mail closed at
8.00am on the 29th and was backstamped Melbourne 9.30pm the same
date. Special cachets were applied at Melbourne and Christchurch.
A small quantity of souvenir overprinted Qantas aerograms were
also flown.

1951, 28 June

AUCKLAND-TONGA FINAL FLIGHT BY NZNAC

Douglas DC-3 regional service from Auckland to
Tonga.

1951, 10 November

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Flight by TEAL Short S.45 Solent ZK-AMO "Aranui"
from Evans Bay, Wellington to the Chatham Islands and return on
the same day. Passengers and mail were carried.

1951, 28 November-6 December

CORAL ROUTE PROVING FLIGHT

TEAL Short S.45 Solent ZK-AMO "Aparima"
(Captains J.R. McGrane and P.F. Le Couteur) left Auckland on 28
for Tahiti via Suva-Aitutaki. It returned to Auckland on 8
December.

Auckland-Suva-Aitutaki-Papeete & return

1951, 9, 15 December

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS

And return flights by TEAL Short S.45 flying
boats ZK-AMM "Ararangi" (9th) and ZK-AMN "Awatere" (15th)
chartered by the Department of Island Territories to transport
schoolchildren home to the Chathams for Christmas holidays. Mail
and passengers were flown to and from Evans Bay,
Wellington.

Short S.45 Solent flying boat ZK-AMO "Aparima"
(Captain J.R. McGrane). Following the survey flight of 27
November-8 December the route was Auckland-Suva-Aitutaki-Papeete.
The return service commenced on 31 December and returned to
Auckland on 4 January, 1952.

Auckland-Suva Aitutaki Papeete & return

(click to enlarge)

1951, 28 December-1952, 2 January

VANCOUVER-HONOLULU-NANDI-AUCKLAND-SYDNEY

Inaugurated by Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd
Canadair C-4 CF-CPJ (Captain R.B. Leslie). The flight arrived at
Auckland on 2 January and proceeded to Sydney on the following
day.

1952, 1 February

AUCKLAND-VANCOUVER SERVICE

Inaugurated by Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd
Canadair C-4CF-CPJ (Captain R.B. Leslie) from
Auckland-Nandi-Canton Island-Honolulu-Vancouver. A special flight
cachet and datestamp were used on covers at
Auckland.

1952, 3 February

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS-AUCKLAND

Charter flight by TEAL Short S.45 Solent flying
boat ZK-AMO "Aranui" which was flown from Auckland to Evans Bay,
Wellington to take aboard passengers and mail for the Chathams.
The return flight made the same day was diverted to Auckland
because of bad weather but no cachets were applied to
mail.

And South Pacific service Auckland-Nandi-Western
Samoa-Aitutaki-Rarotonga before the service was taken over by
TEAL.

1952, 9 November 3 and 18 December

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS & RETURN

TEAL Short S.45 Solent chartered by the Internal
Affairs Department to transport school children and others home
for the Christmas vacation. On 9 November the Solent ZK-AMM
"Ararangi" made a return flight from Evans Bay, Wellington to the
Islands, followed on 3 December by ZK-AML "Aotearoa II" and on
the 16th by ZK-AMO "Aranui".

Flown by TEAL and QANTAS. Special air mails from
many Commonwealth countries were organised to commemorate the
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and in New Zealand a special
datestamp was used at Wellington C.P.O. Mail was carried to
Sydney by TEAL Short Solent ZK-AMN "Awatere" (Captain P.J. Le
Couteur) and from Sydney to Karachi by QANTAS Constellation
VH-EAU "Charles Kingsford Smith" (Captain H. Howse). At Karachi
Captain E. Meares took over and flew VH-EAU to London. Covers
were backstamped by machine LONDON FS. 3 JUNE, 1953 - LONG LIVE
THE QUEEN. 1,082 Kg. of mail, including the London bags was flown
with many return addressed covers.

(click to enlarge)

1953, 8 June

CORONATION AIR MAIL RETURNED FROM LONDON

The mail from the U.K which included return
Coronation covers was 1,075 Kg. plus 450 Kg. of Air Mail flown
from Sydney to Wellington by the Short S.45 Solent ZK-AMM
"Ararangi" (Captain PJ. Le Couteur).

The RNZAF entry, Handley Page Hastings C.3
NZ5804 (Wing Commander R.F. Watson) of No.41 Squadron flew to
Lyneham, Wiltshire, via Singapore and Cyprus, arriving on 11
September. At the start of the race on 8 October the Hastings
left London making for Negombo, Ceylon via Athens and Shaibah. An
engine fault developed as NZ5804 neared Negombo, and a difficult
landing in turbulent conditions caused further damage. The flight
was discontinued and after a replacement engine was flown from
New Zealand and installed, the Hastings reached Auckland on 20
October. On board were the 63,000 souvenir covers which had been
flown to the U.K. as regular air mail and as freight on the
return journey. The souvenir covers bore the one shilling and
sixpence Coronation commemorative adhesive cancelled with a
special datestamp and several explanatory cachets were struck on
the reverse of the covers.

Attracted a variety of competitors, several of
which carried mail. These included the RNZAF Hastings (see 1
Sept), the British European Airways Vickers Viscount G-AMAV, and
the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Douglas DC-6A PH-TFA "Dr Ir M.H.
Damme" (Captain H.A.A. Kooper).

The BEA covers were postmarked LONDON 7-15 AM 8 OCT, 1953 and
backstamped with TEAL cachet CHRISTCHURCH 10 OCT. The KLM cover
showing a map on N.Z. over Tower Bridge is postmarked AMSTERDAM 7
OCTOBER and backstamped at the Christchurch Chief Post Office 7am
11 October, 1953. In the Speed section of the race, the Royal Air
Force entered English Electric Canberra PR 7 WH773 and Canberra
PR 3s WE139 and WE142, and it is known they carried unofficial
covers.

The covers are similar "barber pole" edged air mail envelopes
with typed inscriptions. A cover carried by Canberra PR 3 WE142
is signed by Flight Lieutenant Robert M. Furze (pilot) and Flight
Lieutenant John E. Harper (navigator). Another cover carried by
Canberra PR 7 WH773 is signed by Wing Commander LM. Hodges
(pilot) and Squadron Leader R. Currie (navigator). The covers are
franked with N.Z postage stamps and posted on arrival at
Christchurch, though Canberra PR 7 WH773 experienced a mechanical
fault in Perth and did not reach Wigram until 9 October. Covers
may have been flown by other entries but have not been
reported.

The second RAAF entry in the speed section of
the Air Race was the Australian Department of Aircraft Production
Canberra B.20 A84-201 (Squadron Leader P.F. Raw (pilot), Flying
Officer F.N. Davis (second pilot) and Flight Lieutenant W.D. Kerr
(navigator). It has been reported that this aircraft carried some
unofficial covers from the U.K. to N.Z. but they were not posted
until the aircraft returned to Australia.

1953, 16 October

CHRISTCHURCH-AMSTERDAM RETURN FLIGHT

Of the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Douglas DC6A
Liftmaster PH-TFA "Dr Ir M.H. Damme" after winning the Handicap
Section of the Canterbury Centennial Air Race and bringing 64
fare-paying Dutch emigrants. A special KLM souvenir cover was
prepared for the return flight to Holland and a cachet struck in
red showing a side view of the DC6A with the words "Special
Flight by KLM -Christchurch-Amsterdam - October.
1953".

1953, 19 November

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

By TEAL Short S.45 Solent flying boat. ZK-AMN
"Awatere" was flown from Auckland to Evans Bay, Wellington to
embark passengers and mail for Te Whanga Lagoon in the Chathams,
returning the same day.

1953, 3 December

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Flight by TEAL Short S.45 Solent flying boat
ZK-AMM "Ararangi" on charter to the Department of Island
Territories, Passengers and mail were flown to Te Whanga Lagoon
and the aircraft returned to Evans Bay the same day.

Constellation G-ALAM "Belfast" (Captain T.W.
Hoyle) at Singapore. 31 passengers and two crew were killed. The
resulting fire destroyed much of the mail to the U.K from
Australia and New Zealand but some letters were saved on which a
cachet was struck in red - SALVAGED MAIL -AIRCRAFT CRASH -
SINGAPORE 13.3.54

1954, 7 April

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Flight by TEAL Short S.45 Solent flying boat
ZK-AMM "Ararangi" (Captain PJ. Le Couteur, Second Officer M.R.B.
Wallace). The Solent flew from Auckland to Evans Bay, Wellington
to embark passengers and mail for the Chathams and on the same
day returned to Wellington. After unloading it departed direct to
Sydney but carried no mail.

By six Bristol Freighters of No.41 (Transport)
Squadron, RNZAF carrying equipment for the Tongan Defence Force.
All surface rate mail held at the Auckland Chief Post Office for
Tonga was conveyed to Nukualofa on these flights which were
commanded by Flight Lieutenant JA. Houlton on the 22nd, Flying
Officer M.C. Preece on the 23rd and Squadron Leader R.A. Manners
on the 24th. No distinctive markings were applied and few covers
exist.

The last Wellington-Sydney flight took place on
the 25th and the last Sydney-Auckland service by Short S.45
ZK-AML "Aotearoa II" (Captain J.S. Shepherd) on 27
June.

1954, 28 June

CHRISTCHURCH-CHATHAM ISLANDS AIR DROP

Of medical supplies. A Hastings from No 40
Squadron, RNZAF, was flown from Whenuapai to RNZAF Station,
Wigram where it picked up urgently needed medical supplies at the
request of the Island Resident Medical Officer, Dr R.G. Howe. The
Hastings then flew to the Chathams where the medicines contained
in a storepedo were dropped. Two bags, each containing 25 lbs of
letter mail which had been awaiting a ship at Lyttelton, were
rushed to Wigram and were also dropped from the aircraft over the
Island.

1954, 29-30 June

SYDNEY-CHRISTCHURCH AND RETURN

The TEAL Douglas DC-6 trans- Tasman service was
inaugurated on 29 June by ZK-BGA "Aotearoa III" (Captain J.
Bonnington, Captain J.R. McGrane). The return flight to Sydney
took place on 30 June. A special cachet was struck in violet on
covers from Sydney, and from Christchurch. Some covers were flown
on both flights. (i.e Sydney-Christchurch-Sydney).

1954, 21 July

AUCKLAND-RAROTONGA AND RETURN

An aircraft of No. 41 Squadron, RNZAF (Squadron
Leader K.B. Smith) on a service flight to Rarotonga, offered to
carry any surface rate mail held at Auckland C.P.O. No special
identification was applied to covers. Mail was also carried on
the return flight.

1954, 21 September

AUCKLAND-NUKUALOFA-APIA

An aircraft of No.41 Squadron, RNZAF (Flight
Lieutenant K.A. Sawyer) was used to carry mail held in the
Auckland C.P.O. for Tonga and Western Samoa and also to bring
back mail from these Islands. All surface rate mail was flown. No
distinctive markings were applied and it is thought that few
covers exist.

Auckland-Nukualofa-Apia-Nukualofa & return

1954, 8-10 October

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Special flight by Short S.25 Sunderland flying
boat (Flight Lieutenant EJ. Tompkins) of No. 5 Squadron, RNZAF,
from Evans Bay, Wellington and return. Passengers included a
party of Air Department surveyors investigating airfield sites.
Mail was also carried and the aircraft and surveyors returned to
Wellington on 10 October.

Service flight by a Bristol Freighter on No.41
Squadron, RNZAF (Flight Lieutenant W.H. Golden). Four bags of
Mail totalling 120 lbs, at an "All Up" surface rates were flown
at the request of the Auckland C.P.O. No special identifying
markings were applied.

By Short 5.25 Sunderland flying boat of No. S
Squadron, RNZAF, The flight was arranged by the Department of
Island Territories to return children from the Islands to
mainland schools. Passengers and accumulated mail were also
carried.

Special flights by Bristol Freighter (Flight
Lieutenant B. McGill) of No.41 Squadron, RNZAF, to carry mail to
Fiji and Rarotonga. Mail had accumulated at the Auckland Chief
Post Office during the prolonged docking of the Island supply
ship, the NLV. "Maui Pomare". No identifying markings were
applied.

TEAL inaugurated regular service using Douglas
DC-4 VH-EBO "Pacific Trader" chartered from QANTAS. Covers posted
in Auckland are backstamped at Norfolk Is on the 7th. This
service replaced that of NZNAC on behalf of TEAL (see entry 4
Sept.)

1955, 7-11 November

WELLINGTON-CAMPBELL ISLAND AND RETURN

Flight by Short S.25 Sunderland NZ4119 of No. 6
Squadron, RNZAF. The aircraft flew from RNZAF Station,
Hobsonville to Evans Nay, Wellington where passengers and mail
were taken on board. It then flew to Bluff where it was delayed
for four days by bad weather at Campbell Island. The Sunderland
arrived at Campbell Island on the 11th at 9.00am. Mail was also
carried on the return flight made the same day.

First flights to the Antarctic by aircraft of
the US Navy Air Development Squadron VX-6. Two Douglas R5D-3
Skymasters (56505 "Rosemary" and 56528 "Carole Jeune") and two
Lockheed P2V-2 Neptunes (122465 "Tondemini" and 122466- not
named) left Christchurch Airport on 20 December and arrived
safely at McMurdo Sound. Two Douglas R4D-5 Skytrains (12418
"Korora" and 17274 "Tawaiki") flew from Wigram to Taieri
aerodrome on 20 December from where they were to make the flight
south together with two Grumman UF-IL Albatrosses (142428 "Toroa"
and 142429 "Shake Rattle and Roll").
Strong head winds prevented the four aircraft from completing the
flight south and they returned to Wigram. A variety of covers was
carried unofficially by various airmen and one cover seen is
postmarked CHRISTCHURCH 18 DE 5312-PM and USS WYANDOT JAN 7. (USS
"Wyandot" (AKA-92) was berthed at McMurdo Sound with cargo for
the base.)

1956, 31 January

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Ansett Flying Boat Services Pty Ltd. Short
Sandringham was chartered by the Department of Island Territories
to make a return flight between Evans Bay, Wellington and the
Chathams.

1956, 24 February

RNZAF STATION, WIGRAM-CAMPBELL ISLAND

A RNZAF aircraft on a fisheries protection
surveillance flight air dropped a small quantity of mail for the
staff of the sub-Antarctic Meteorological Station.

Was commenced by TEAL using the Short Solent
flying boats to replace the Douglas DC-6 while Nandi was closed.
Some privately printed covers were flown, postmarked AUCKLAND
F.M.B. 13 AU 5611.30 AM.

1956, 16 October

INVERCARGILL-McMURDO SOUND FLIGHT

By US. Navy 'Penguin Squadron' VX6 of Operation
Deepfreeze, which made a second attempt to fly the Lockheed P2V
Neptunes to Antarctica. (see 22 Dec. 1955) After a JATO (Jet
Assisted Take Off) from Invercargill Airport the Neptunes reached
Williams Field, McMurdo Station although one crashed on landing.
A variety of mail was carried by the crews including 300 souvenir
'Penguin Squadron' covers.

1956, 19 October

AUCKLAND-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Short S.45 Solent flying boat ZK-AMO "Aranui" on
charter to RNZAF flying direct from Auckland to the Chathams.
This was the last service flight of "Aranui".

By Ansett Flying Boat Services Pty Ltd. Short
Sandringham. The aircraft was chartered by the Department of
Island Territories to make three return flights from Evans Bay,
Wellington. For the flights of 18 and 20 Dec. the Sandringham
flew direct from Sydney to Wellington, returning empty after the
Chatham flights. On 29 January 1957, the Sandringham (Captain LL
Maundrell) flew from Hobart to Bluff with a party of tourists,
which he picked up following the flight to the Chathams. No mail
was carried on the trans Tasman flights.
18, 20 Dec., 29 Jan: Wellington-Chatham Is. &
return

1957, 5 February

AUCKLAND-MELBOURNE AND RETURN

Trial Douglas DC-6 service by TEAL. A scheduled
DC-6 service commenced in October 1957. It is not known whether
mail was carried although it is possible that some unofficial
covers were flown.

1957, 4-9 February

PARIS-AUCKLAND-PARIS

First flights by TM (Compagnie de Transports
Aeriens Intercontinentaux) by Douglas DC-6B F-BGOB (Captain
Allais) left Paris on 4 February, arrived Auckland on the 7th and
departed on the return flight on the 9th. Covers were postmarked
Paris. 4 Feb., and have a rubber stamped framed cachet PREMIER
LIAISON AERIENNE -PARIS-AUCKLAND -4 Fevrier 1957' in red. Covers
on the return flight were backstamped PARIS AVIATION 10-2-5. A
round cachet with the TM motif in the centre and AUCKLAND 7th
FEBRUARY 1957 curved within a circle was applied to
covers.

1957, 18 March

LYNEHAM (UK)-OHAKEA (NZ)

Proving flight by De Havilland D.H.106 Comet C.2
XK695 of No. 216 Squadron, RAF Transport Command. A few covers
were flown unofficially with a rubber stamped cachet showing
flight details and a further cachet which reads: FIRST RAF COMET
2 FLIGHT -ENGLAND TO NEW ZEALAND (Via CEYLON AND AUSTRALIA).
Covers were postmarked OHAKEA AIR FORCE 19 MR 57.

1957, 26 March

OHAKEA-LYNEHAM FLIGHT BY D.H. 106 COMET C.2
XK695

Of No.216 Squadron, RAF Transport Command.
Covers are struck with a cachet dated 26.3.57 giving details of
the flight and backstamped SWINDON WILTS 28 MCH 1957. The cover
also bears the cachets ROYAL AIR FORCE -JET AIR MAIL and FIRST
RAF COMET 2 FLIGHT - NEW ZEALAND TO ENGLAND - via AUSTRALIA AND
CEYLON.

Of No. 216 Squadron, RAP Transport Command
(Squadron Leader J. Harper). Flown covers are similar to those
carried on 26 March but are franked with N.Z. Peace stamps and
postmarked OHAKEA AIR FORCE 3 MY 57.

1957, 15 May

OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE HAPUPU AIRSTRIP, CHATHAM
ISLANDS

After the withdrawal of the flying boat service,
the Hapupu airstrip was developed to NZ Civil Aviation
requirements for aircraft up to Douglas DC-3 size. A Civil
Aviation Administration DC-3 which made a calibration flight from
Paraparaumu to the Chathams brought mail back to
Christchurch.

A Bristol Freighter (Flying Officer B.J. Grigg)
of No 41 Squadron. RNZAF flew from Whenuapai to drop mail and
supplies to the personnel of the N.Z. Meteorological Station on
Raoul Island in the Kermadec group.

Flight by Pan American Airways Boeing
Stratocruiser N1O3OV "Clipper America" (Captain Ralph Savory).
The Clipper flew from Quonset Point, Rhode Island to Christchurch
via San Francisco, Honolulu, Canton Island and Nandi, arriving on
the 14th. It left Christchurch Airport for McMurdo Sound at
10.30am on the 15th arriving at Williams Field at 9.30am the
following morning. This was the first commercial flight to
Antarctica and carried 37 passengers, mainly US. Seabees for
construction work at McMurdo Station, and a crew of 6 which
included two stewardesses. Mail, including special printed covers
was flown to Antarctica and some covers were carried on the
return flight.

Flights from Christchurch Airport to Te Hapupu
airstrip by NZNAC Douglas DC-3 chartered by the Department of
Island Territories. ZK-APA "Puweto" (Captain P. Matheson) made
the flight on the 14th and possibly all of the flights of the
charter.

In the "Southern Cross". Stamps of a similar
design were issued by New Zealand and Australia to commemorate
the flight and a special mail was flown by TEAL from Sydney to
Christchurch. 57,043 covers were flown including, 8,260 with
return Australian postage.

By Kingsford Smith in the 'Southern Cross" The
N.Z. Post Office arranged a special commemorative mail from
Woodbourne, Blenheim where a special cancellation was applied to
letters. The mail was then sent to Christchurch to be placed on
the scheduled TEAL DC-6 flight to Sydney. A souvenir "two way"
folder was produced by the New Zealand and Australian Air Leagues
and flown Christchurch (Blenheim)-Sydney-Christchurch. The large
mail included a number of special covers.

(click to enlarge)

1958, 26 November

WELLINGTON-CHATHAM ISLANDS AND RETURN

Flight by Short Sunderland of No. 6 Maritime
Squadron, RNZAF. As officials of the Civil Aviation
Administration believed that the safety of operations from the
Hapupu airstrip was in doubt the Department of Island Territories
arranged with the RNZAF to carry out a series of return flights
between Evans Bay and Te Whanga Lagoon.

1958, 7 December

QANTAS INAUGURATED A TRANSPACIFIC SERVICE

From Melbourne to San Francisco via Auckland but
no official mails were reported by the N.Z. Post
Office.

Flight by D.H.106 Comet C.2 XK696 (Flight
lieutenant D. Draper) of No.216 Squadron, RAF Transport Command.
A small quantity of unofficial air mail covers was carried. They
bore a label reading ROYAL AIR FORCE -JET AIR MAIL and cachet
giving details of flight and are franked with N.Z. stamps
postmarked OHAKEA AIR FORCE 1 AP 59.

(Captain D.W.G. Keesing, Captain PJ. Le Couteur)
left Auckland at 6.00am with 17lbs of mail and arrived at
Brisbane at 12.30pm. The return flight left Brisbane at 3.00pm
with 24lbs of mail and landed at Auckland at 9.00pm.

Proving flight of De Havilland Comet 4 G-APDC
(Captain RE. Millichap). The Comet flew to Christchurch before
returning to Auckland on 22 October and London. During the round
trip commencing 15 Oct and ending back in London Airport on 1
November, the Comet 4 flew 56,200 miles. Air mail covers
inscribed COMET JET MAIL and a cachet in two lines BOAC PROVING
FLIGHT - BY COMET 4 AIRLINER and cachet giving flight details,
and are signed by the pilot. The covers are postmarked EPSOM
SURREY 2 NOV 1959.

RNZAF Sunderland flying boat NZ4111 (Flight
lieutenant B. Dwyer) struck a submerged reef while attempting to
take-off from the Te Whanga Lagoon, severely damaging the hull.
The flying boat was later abandoned. It is believed that some
mail was aboard the Sunderland but it was returned to the
Waitangi Post Office, Chatham Island, and later forwarded to N.Z.
by other means. No identifying markings.

TEAL introduced the Lockheed Electra on the
route Auckland-Nandi. Electra ZK-TEB "Atarau" (Captain E.R.
Tredrea) commenced the service on 1 January, returning to
Auckland on the 6th. Special commemorative covers were produced
by TEAL.

1960, 25 January

CHRISTCHURCH-SYDNEY OR MELBOURNE AND RETURN

TEAL introduced Lockheed Electra on these
routes. The inaugural flights were made by Electra ZK-TEA
"Aotearoa" (Captain J.R McGrane).

1960, 2 February

PARIS-AUCKLAND-PARIS TAI

Final Douglas DC-6B (F-BHEF) service (Captain
Vasiu). No official mail was forwarded by the N.Z. Post
Office.

1960, 5-6 February

NOUMEA-AUCKLAND AND RETURN SERVICE

Commenced by TM with Douglas DC-4 FB-ELG
(Captain Manolescu). The return flight took place on the
6th.

Bristol Freighter NZ5910 (Flight lieutenant A.E.
McLeod) of the Transport Support Unit, RNZAF, flew from Whenuapai
to Wigram with mails and replacement parts for the Meteorological
Base power generator, which had been damaged by waves following
the earthquake in Chile. On the 18th, the Freighter flew to
Invercargill and Campbell Island but was unable to air-drop
through poor visibility and returned to Invercargill. The
following day (19th) a successful drop was made.

RETURN TO AUCKLAND OF THE LAST TEAL SHORT S.45
SOLENT FLYING BOAT ZK-AMO "Aranui"

After a farewell flight over the 4,600 miles of
the 'Coral Route' under the command of Captain JS. Shepherd.
"Aranui" was presented to the Museum of Transport and Technology
at Auckland. A few covers were carried by courtesy.